1 He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,

2 and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal [the sick].

3 He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.

4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.

5 And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”

6 Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

Jesus called the Twelve – these are the disciples that eventually became the Apostles; these are the men that shared the Last Supper with Him. On this occasion He gave them the power an authority that He had been using to cast out demons and to cure illnesses. On receiving this power they really did go throughout the countryside curing the sick and casting out demons.